| Dedicated to the Co-existence of People and Nature in Africa | |
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Sveva-25- and her Samburu "son" Moses-15- a month later, after the completion of his circumcision ceremonies. Sveva is responsible for Moses and will look after him as a 'Mother'for the rest of his life; she is sending him to Secondary school. For her, at her young age, a huge honour. The Four Generations Project is an exciting and typically ambitious brainchild of Sveva Gallmann's. Aimed at staunching the gradual loss of traditional tribal knowledge and encouraging a reconnection with and respect for the natural environment, the project, sponsored by the Ford Foundation and the Nando Peretti Foundation in partnership with the Gallmann Memorial Foundation, brings together local kids from the main surrounding tribes - Kikuyu, Turkana, Samburu, Nandi, Kalenjin - and inspires them to actively seek out and share the wisdom of their elders. The information is collected and transmitted through a variety of interactive teaching techniques including inter-generational question-and-answer sessions, performance and role play, story-telling, tribal cosmology, singing and nature walks with traditional herbalists and nature experts. The children (and their grand-parents and great grand- parents) are evidently finding the work enormously rewarding so far, benefiting hugely from the experience. We have formed The Four Generations Drama Group, which is delighting the neighbouring communities - entertaining them with an eclectic mix of ancient stories portrayed in a modern way. An ideal medium for the transmission of traditional lore, as the group grows it's hoped that they'll be able to take their productions further afield. This project would not be possible without Cecilia Wangechi and Mary Wanjiku, our project assistants who have successfully managed to involve the entire community. Sveva hopes the project will gradually expand throughout the region, the country and - possibly - the continent. Sveva's return to Ol ari Nyiro after many adventures abroad has been joyfully welcomed by everyone here. |
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